Cart attachment for a backpack

ABSTRACT

A cart attachment for a backpack is described which includes a pair of opposed flaps coupled to an upper back of a backpack. The flaps include a pair of hooks and loops strips to engage and disengage the flaps. The cart attachment has two positions. In the first position, the flaps are opened in opposite directions. In the second position, the flaps are securely closed to accommodate desired articles or items in the cart attachment. The cart attachment is also provided on a bottom portion of the backpack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cart attachment for a backpack. In particular, the invention relates to a cart attachment having a pair of opposed flaps that define a cover and an enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The prior art shows various designs of backpacks and carts that can be carried on the back and/or wheeled over the floor as well. The backpacks in the art generally include a plurality of compartments and/or pockets. The pockets are generally provided on the front and sides of the backpack. The user has trouble accessing the front and side pockets of the backpacks when the backpack is carried on the back of the user. It should also be noted that the user has trouble accessing the front pockets when the backpack is wheeled on the floor. The zipper pockets of the backpack are inconveniently accessed when the backpack is being wheeled or carried on one's back. To access the pockets of the wheeled backpack, the user has to stop and change his/her direction to access the front pockets. The user has to remove the backpack on his back to access the front pockets. Otherwise the user has to perform a painful movement of moving the hands in the backward direction and locate desired element in the front pockets.

Challanan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,533 is directed to a carrier for carrying recreational boards. The carrier can be supported by one or more straps. A board is held by a first flap and a second flap. The flaps are held together by hooks and loops securing means.

Challoner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,254 teaches a carrying case for carrying a recreational board. The carrier case has a base and a first and a second engagement means such as pouch or compartment for securing recreational board to the base. The engagement means includes draw stringing and a strap engaged with another strap.

The prior art doesn't disclose a backpack that is easily and conveniently accessed while the backpack is being carried on the back or wheeled on the floor. Particularly, the backpacks in the prior art do not include an attachment with a pair of flaps that provide an enclosure or a pocket that is easily accessed when the backpack is on the back or wheeled by the user.

The backpacks in the prior art also do not suggest any attachment that is used for safely keeping the valuables that are not accessible by any person when the backpack in carried on the back of the user.

There is a need of a backpack that includes a cart attachment that can be accessed easily while the backpack is being carried by the user. Further there is a need of a cart attachment for a backpack that includes a pair of flaps that can be easily opened and closed by the user when the backpack is being carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cart attachment for a backpack is described that includes a pair of flaps that are coupled to the upper back portion of a backpack. A first flaps and a second flap defines an enclosure of the cart attachment. The first and second flaps are approximately identical in shape. In one embodiment, the flaps are securely closed with a pair of hooks and loops strips such as Velcro® brand strips over the enclosed item.

The cart attachment has two configurations. In a first configuration, the cart attachment is opened to access the cart. In a second configuration, the cart attachment is closed with the first flap and the second flap. The cart attachment is easily assessed by the user when the backpack is being wheeled. The user accesses the cart by simply opening the first flap to the first configuration. The cart attachment is closed to the second configuration simply by pressing the first flap over the second flap.

In another embodiment, the cart attachment is provided on a bottom portion of the backpack. The first flap and the second flaps are securely coupled to the bottom portions of the backpack so that the flaps surround the bottom portion of the backpack. The cart attachment in this one embodiment has a first opened position and a second closed position. The cart attachment is advantageously used to access items kept in the attachment without removing the backpack when the backpack is carried by the user on the back.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cart attachment in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3, show steps involved in changing a first configuration of a cart attachment of FIG. 1 to a second configuration;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the cart attachment of FIG. 1 in the second configuration;

FIG. 5 is a front view of another embodiment of cart attachment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show steps involved in changing a first configuration of the cart attachment of FIG. 5 to a second configuration; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of the cart attachment of FIG. 5 in the second configuration;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a cart attachment 10 for a backpack 12 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The cart attachment 10 includes a pair of opposed flaps that enclose desired items, articles, belongings etc. when the backpack is being carried on the back and wheeled. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first horizontal flap 14 and a second horizontal flap 16 are coupled on an upper back of the backpack 12 at predefined positions. In this one preferred embodiment, first flap 14 and second flap 16 are separated by a horizontal bar 18.

The cart attachment 10 has a first position and a second position. In one embodiment, the cart attachment 10 is opened in the first position and the cart attachment is closed in the second position. First flap 14 and second flap 16 define an enclosure of the cart attachment 10 in the second position. The flaps 14 and 16 are preferably made of flexible material, for example, resin, polyester, cotton.

The first flap 14 is coupled to horizontal bar 18. The first flap 14 having a first side (not shown in FIG. 1) and a second side 20, includes a first section 22 and second section 24. Second section 24 has approximately double surface area and height of the first section 22. The first section 22 includes a first hooks and loops strip 26 on the first section such that the hooks and loops 26 is on second side 20 of first flap 14. It is, however, understood that the size of the first section 22 and the first hooks and loops strip 26 is approximately identical.

A bottom edge of first hooks and loops strip 26 preferably approximately aligns with a top edge of the second section 24. A bottom portion of the first section 24 is securely coupled to horizontal bar 18 of the back pack 12 preferably with a pair of rivets such that the flap 14 is foldable along a top edge 27 of the horizontal bar 18 over the horizontal bar 18.

The second flap 16 having a first side 28 and a second side (not shown) is preferably coupled with the back of backpack 12 in a predefined position below the horizontal bar 18. The second flap 16 has a first section 30 and a second section 32. The second section 32 is coupled with the back portion of backpack 12 along a bottom fold line 34 using the methods known in the art such as stitching, riveting etc.

The second flap 16 is coupled with the back of the back pack 12 so that that a top edge 36 of the first section 30 approximately aligns with a bottom edge of horizontal bar 18. It is, however, understood that the second flap is removably foldable about the fold line 34. The first section 30 of the second flap 16 includes a second hooks and loops strip 38 on the first side 28 of second flap 16 that is in accordance with first hooks and loops strip 26.

In the first configuration, the first flaps 14 and 16 are foldably opened in opposite directions to enclose a desired item in an area defined by the bottom edge of horizontal bar 18 and fold line 34. One or more desired items, for example, folders of documents are positioned on the back portion of the backpack 12 in the container area.

In the second configuration, the cart attachment 10 is closed by folding the second flap 16 over the enclosing items, and then the first flap 14 is folded over the second flap. In a second configuration, the first flap is folded over the back and the second flap 16 is folded over the horizontal bar 18 such that the hooks and loops strips 26 and 38 are engaged to securely close the cart attachment 12. The cart attachment 12 in the second configuration is changed to the first configuration by reversing the steps described above.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, steps involved to close and open the cart attachment 12 are described. Initially, the opposed flaps 14 and 16 are in a flat open position to accommodate desired items in the cart attachment 10 to define a first open configuration. In a first step, desired articles or items are placed in the container area and second flap 16 is folded over the respective items. In a second step, first section 22 of first flap 14 is folded towards second flap 16 in a direction indicated by arrow 1. In a third step, the first hooks and loops strip 26 is moved towards the second hooks and loops strip 38 in a direction indicated by arrow 2.

In a fourth step, the first hooks and loops strip 26 and the second hooks and loops strips 38 are engaged to close the cart attachment 12 to define the second configuration. In the second configuration, the first flap 14 overlaps horizontal bar 18 and the hooks and loops strip 26 of first section 22 engages with the hooks and loops strip 38 of the first section 30 of second flap 16.

In a another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the cart attachment 40 for a bottom portion of the backpack 12 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this one embodiment, cart attachment 40 includes a pair of opposed flexible flaps that are coupled along opposite ends of the bottom portion 42 of the backpack 12.

In one embodiment, a first flap 44 that is approximately rectangular in shape has a first side 46 and a second side 48. A second flap 50 that is approximately identical to first flap 44 also includes a first side (not seen in figure) and a second side 52. Each of the flaps 44 and 50 include a first section 54 and a second section 56. In one embodiment, second section 56 preferably has a greater area than first section 54. Each of the flaps 44 and 50 is securely coupled with the bottom portion 42 with respective first sections 54. The first section 54 of each of the flaps 44 and 50 defines a free end of the flap.

In one embodiment, the first section 54 of the first flap 44 includes a first hooks and loops strip 58 on the first side 46. The first hooks and loops strip 58 is approximately identical with the first section 46. The first section 54 of second flap 50 includes a second hooks and loops strip 60 on the second side 56. The cart attachment 40 has two configurations. In a first configuration, the cart attachment is opened and in a second configuration, the cart attachment is closed.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, steps involved in closing the cart attachment from first open configuration to second closed configuration are described. In a first step, the first flap 44 is moved towards the bottom portion 42 of the backpack 12 in a direction indicated by arrow 3. The first flap 44 is in a flat rested position over the bottom portion 42 (see FIG. 6).

In a second step, the second flap 50 is moved towards the second section 48 of the first flap 44 in a direction indicated by the arrow 4. In this step, the first hooks and loops strip 58 faces the second hooks and loops strip 60. In a third step, the first flap 46 and second flap 50 are securely engaged by pressing the respective hooks and loops strips 58 and 60. The first flap 44 and second flap 50 surround the bottom portion 42 of the stand to close the cart attachment 12. The cart attachment 40 is opened to the first configuration by reversing the steps described above.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-8, in operation, the cart attachment 10 on the upper portion of the backpack 12 is preferably used when the backpack 12 is being wheeled on the floor. In this configuration, the user can advantageously access the cart attachment simply by opening the first flap. The user accesses the cart attachment 10 without stopping the motion and changing the direction of the backpack 10 to open the zipper. The cart attachment 10 is easily closed by pressing the hooks and loops of the first flap 14 against the hooks and loops of the second flap 16. The user can keep desired items, for example, a diary, a costume, a scarf, educational material etc. in the enclosure defined by second flap 16 of the cart attachment 10.

The cart attachment 10 is also very useful when the backpack 12 is carried on the user's back. Cart attachment 10 is an additional secured pocket to safely keep valuables such as wallet, money bag, documents etc. The cart attachment 10 is used to carry various items, for example, piece of a cloth, sand bags etc., to gives cushioning effect to the user's back.

The cart attachment 10 on the back of the backpack 10 advantageously safely protects the valuables inside the cart attachment 10 while the backpack 12 is carried on the user's back. In this configuration, the cart attachment 10 is positioned between the user's back and the backpack 10. Hence, the cart attachment 10 cannot be accessed externally from the back side when the user is facing on the front.

The cart attachment 40 on the bottom portion of the backpack 12 is advantageously used when the backpack 12 is being carried by the user on back. In this configuration, the user can access the flaps 44 and 50 on the bottom portion 42 by just opening the flaps using the preferred method. The cart attachment 40 is advantageously used to carry a laptop, a card board, a pair of shoes etc. The user can easily access the cart attachment by removing the flap by one hand and taking the item by the other hand without removing the backpack. 

1. A cart attachment for a backpack having a pair of opposed flaps coupled to an upper back of the backpack comprising: a first flap having a first side and a second side with at least two sections, the second side includes a first hooks and loops strip coupled to the first section; a second flap having a first side and a second side with at least two sections, the first side includes a second hooks and loops strip coupled to the first section; the first flap and the second flaps are adapted to foldably open in a first position in opposite directions to accommodate a plurality of articles; and the first flap and the second flap are adapted to be folded in a second position to be securely closed to enclose the articles.
 2. The cart attachment of claim 1, wherein the first flap and the second flap are separated by a horizontal bar of the backpack.
 3. The cart attachment of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the second section of the first flap is securely coupled with the horizontal bar.
 4. The cart attachment of claim 3, wherein the first flap is foldable along a top edge of the horizontal bar over the horizontal bar.
 5. The cart attachment of claim 1 wherein, the second section of the second flap is coupled on the back of backpack along a bottom fold line.
 6. The cart attachment of claim 1, wherein a top edge of the first section of the second flap aligns with a bottom edge of horizontal bar.
 7. The cart attachment of claim 1, wherein the cart attachment is coupled on a bottom portion of backpack.
 8. The cart attachment of claim 7, wherein the first flap and the second flap are oppositely securely mounted on the bottom portion of the backpack. 